Wash. Hunter Pleads Guilty To Wolf Poaching Conspiracy

TWISP, Wash. -- A Twisp, Washington man has changed his plea to guilty in a high-profile federal wolf poaching case. As part of a plea agreement, the 62-year-old man will not go to prison. The lack of jail time greatly disappoints a conservation group. Correspondent Tom Banse has more on the story.

Last year, federal prosecutors filed a dozen charges against Bill White and his son and daughter-in-law. The indictment alleged that in 2008 and 2009, the father and son killed at least five federally-protected wolves from the first confirmed pack to reestablish in Washington state. The poaching conspiracy began to unravel when police intercepted a FedEx package dripping blood. It contained a fresh wolf pelt.

Now Bill White has pleaded guilty to three related charges, while nine others were dropped. Prosecution and defense agreed on a proposed sentence of three years probation, a $38,500 fine, and no jail time. The director of the pro-wolf group Conservation Northwest says he's dismayed by the lack of jail time. Mitch Friedman says -- quote -- "It feels like a punch in the gut." Federal charges are still pending against the other members of the White family.